Andrew Miller named ALCS MVP; struck out 14 of 26 Blue Jays faced
— -- Andrew Miller has been selected the MVP of the American League Championship Series after his latest splendid performance in relief helped the Cleveland Indians reach the World Series.
Miller pitched 2? scoreless innings in a 3-0 win Wednesday over Toronto, capping a five-game series in which the 6-foot-7 lefty overpowered the Blue Jays. He struck out 14 of the 26 Toronto batters he faced in 7? shutout innings, increasing his 2016 postseason punchout total to 21.?
The ALCS concluded with Miller having registered three holds and one save, allowing three hits, no runs and no walks as the Indians won their sixth pennant and first since 1997. Cleveland won the series 4-1.
Miller, 31, was acquired from the New York Yankees in a July 31 trade -- and Cleveland had an interesting idea of how to use him. Rather than restricting him to a closer role or using him only in the eighth inning, the Indians have been flexible with Miller, especially in the postseason.
Miller became just the fourth reliever ever to win the award, joining Dennis Eckersley (1988), Mariano Rivera (2003) and Koji Uehara (2013).
Cleveland overtook defending World Series champion Kansas City and topped Detroit to win the AL Central, then put an abrupt ending to Big Papi's career, sweeping David Ortiz and the Boston Red Sox in the AL Division Series.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.?
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